A chilly misty night greeted Charnock as they arrived at Holt House in East Lancashire for their Lancashire Challenge Trophy Quarter Final match. Colne won the toss and elected to kick downhill for the first half.

In an action packed first half, Charnock had the first chance. Goalkeeper Hakan Burton hit a clearance against Joe Noblet, and it came to Jake Higham 30 yards out. Instead of electing to fire the ball into an unguarded net, he ran 10 yards and tried the effort but it drifted wide. After a good start, it was the home side who took the lead as early as the fourth minute. From the resultant goal kick which ended on the left, Ollie WOOD collected the ball in the area and drove home past the outstretched hand of Adam Halton. Another Colne chance came on 9 minutes, but with Ashley Young defending the ball it fell to Curran from 20 yards, driving a shot wide. Noblet's shot gave hints of handball in the home side's penalty area but referee Mr. Brown waved any half-hearted appeals away. Down the slope, Halton had to be on hand to parry away a Wood header as he looked certain to double his goal tally. Nathan Fairhurst then turned over a Matt Davison low cross, and Colne's Brad Lynch played a one-two from a Colne free kick, and blasted a low shot which was deflected over for a corner. Midway in the first half, Spencer Bibby's good work down the right found Noblet, and his cross was caught well by Burton. A minute later came the best chance of first half so far. Noblet drilled a cross shot to the back post and Jake Higham failed to get the slightest of touches that would've took the ball into the back of the net. Minutes later, a Noblet free kick 30 yards out was curled into the head of Ashley Young, but his header was held by Burton. Davison then shot straight at the keeper before Halton turned a Wood shot around the post for a corner.

No changes for either side at the start of the second half ensured the game resumed it's vein of pitch action. A Spencer Bibby free kick on the edge of the area after Davison was fouled ricocheted off the Colne wall to Walker who volleyed just wide from 20 yards. Ash Young had to be alert to clear a low cross by Lynch away from danger, before Noblet's free kick from in front of the halfway line sailed over everyone in the penalty area. Jake Higham was getting more into the game as it progressed, and his low centre was beaten away for a corner. From the resultant set piece, Grimshaw came close at the near post but his effort went wide. Both Noblet and Colne's Watson fired over from distance. Andy Westwell made changes, bringing Oli Oxley on in place of Matt Davison, Ash Ball came on for Troy Carsley. James Walker made a bursting run down the majority of the pitch on the leftside, played a neat 1-2 with Higham but his flicked shot was held by the Colne 'keeper. Burton had pretty much the final say in most of Charnock's attacks all evening, and was on hand again to tip over a superbly flighted free kick from Bibby. The pitch got in the way of Ash Young's shot as time spilled over the 90 minutes, with the ball bobbling as he pulled the trigger from 20 yards. From a quick counter attack, Colne looked likely to put the tie to bed but substitute somehow fired wide of the far post.

Man of the Match – Nathan Fairhurst

Charnock are back in league action on Saturday in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division, as they take on Padiham away from home. 3:00PM kick off.